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Today's News

FIRE CREWS HAD TO RETURN TO THE SCENE OF A FIRE IN WEST TAYLOR TOWNSHIP LAST NIGHT AT ABOUT 9:00 … AFTER FLAMES REKINDLED FOLLOWING A FIRE THAT STARTED IN THE AFTERNOON. THE FIRE HAS LEFT A MAN AND WOMAN HOMELESS. IT’S BELIEVED THE FIRE STARTED IN THE BASEMENT, BUT THE CAUSE IS UNKNOWN. A STATE POLICE FIRE MARSHAL WILL BE INVESTIGATING.

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A CENTRAL CAMBRIA SCHOOL BUS WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YESTERDAY. IT HAPPENED IN JACKSON TOWNSHIP AT THE INTERSECTION OF ROUTE 22 AND BLUE SPRUCE ROAD. THE BUS HAD STOPPED AND HAD ITS WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING, BUT A CAR BEHIND THE BUS ATTEMPTED TO PASS IT ON THE LEFT HAND SIDE AND STRUCK THE BUS AND ANOTHER CAR. THERE WERE 4 ELEMENTARY SCHOOL KIDS AND THE DRIVER ON THE BUS. FORTUNATELY, THERE WERE NO INJURIES.

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A GREENSBURG ATTORNEY HAS FILED A NOTICE IN CAMBRIA COUNTY COURT LISTING A 4TH VICTIM OF ALLEGED ABUSE BY BROTHER STEPHEN BAKER, THE FRANCISCAN FRIAR WHO COMMITTED SUICIDE LAST MONTH AT ST. BERNADINE’S MONASTERY IN HOLLIDAYSBURG. LAWYER SUSAN WILLIAMS ALSO TOLD THE TRIBUNE-DEMOCRAT THAT SHE HAS BEEN CONTACTED BY SOMEONE SHE WOULD NAME ONLY AS A MALE FROM MOUNT ALOYSIUS COLLEGE. BROTHER STEPHEN VOLUNTEERED AS A BASEBALL SCOREKEEPER THERE FROM 2007 TO EARLY 2011. BAKER SETTLED WITH 11 YOUNG MEN WHO CLAIMED HE ABUSED THEM IN OHIO AND, SINCE THEN, DOZENS OF FORMER STUDENTS AT JOHNSTOWN’S BISHOP MCCORT HIGH SCHOOL HAVE MADE SIMILAR CLAIMS.

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IN JOHNSTOWN’S FEDERAL COURT YESTERDAY, JUSTIN MCELHENY PLEADED GUILTY TO DRUG AND WEAPON CHARGES. HE WAS ACCUSED OF STEALING GUNS FROM EAST COAST GUN SALES IN BLAIR COUNTY WHERE HE WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE. HE COULD FACE A MAXIMUM SENTENCE OF 20 YEARS IN JAIL. MCELHENY WILL BE SENTENCED IN JUNE.

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A SOMERSET COUNTY WOMAN WHO IS AN AIR FORCE VETERAN HAS PLEADED GUILTY TO STEALING MORE THAN 4-THOUSAND DOLLARS FROM THE SOMERSET COUNTY CHAPTER OF THE VIETNAM VETERANS. 39-YEAR OLD LORRIE FISHER OF FRIEDENS FACES UP TO 7 YEARS IN PRISON WHEN SHE’S SENTENCED APRIL 11th. AUTHORITIES SAY FISHER WROTE CHECKS TO HERSELF FROM THE CHAPTER'S ACCOUNT WHEN SHE SERVED AS BOOKKEEPER IN 2010.

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IN BROOKVILLE, THE BROOKVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD HAS VOTED TO HAVE POLICE PATROL THE SCHOOLS. THE DECISION WAS MADE AFTER MANY PARENTS EXPRESSED CONCERN ABOUT SECURITY. NOW, A POLICE OFFICER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR PATROLLING THE FOUR SCHOOLS IN THE DISTRICT.

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IN FAYETTE COUNTY … THE LAWYER FOR CONVICTED UNIONTOWN FIRE CHIEF MYRON NYPAVER SAYS HIS CLIENT DESERVES A NEW TRIAL. NYPAVER IS ON PROBATION AND HIS WIFE WAS SENTENCED TO TWO YEARS IN PRISON FOR ILLEGALLY COLLECTING UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS. APPEALING TO A PANEL OF THREE SUPERIOR COURT JUDGES, NYPAVER'S LAWYER ARGUED THAT THE COUPLE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN CONVICTED UNDER THE CRIMES CODE.

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BLAIR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SAY THEY ARE CONSIDERING 6 BIDS … RANGING FROM 12 TO 16 MILLION DOLLARS…FOR VALLEY VIEW NURSING HOME. OFFICIALS PLAN TO REVIEW THE BIDS OVER THE NEXT WEEK AND NARROW THEM DOWN TO A FEW FINALISTS. A FINAL SALES AGREEMENT COULD BE IN PLACE WITHIN A COUPLE OF MONTHS. VALLEY VIEW EMPLOYEES SAY THEY ARE SADDENED THAT COMMISSIONERS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH A SALE THAT COULD HURT VALLEY VIEW RESIDENTS.

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U-S SENATOR BOB CASEY HAS BEEN APPOINTED TO THE SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND HE SAYS HE WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT FOR PENNSYLVANIA PRIORITIES. CASEY WILL CONTINUE TO SERVE ON THE FOREIGN RELATIONS COMMITTEE, THE HEALTH EDUCATION, LABOR AND PENSIONS COMMITTEE, THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE ON AGING AND THE JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE.

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A CENTRE COUNTY JUDGE YESTERDAY SENTENCED 30-YEAR-OLD ANDRE ADAMS TO 77 TO 155 YEARS IN A STATE PRISON. THE FORMER NEW YORK MAN WAS CONVICTED LAST MONTH OF SELLING COCAINE TO UNDERCOVER POLICE IN THE STATE COLLEGE AREA IN 2011 AND 12. ADAMS, WHO REPRESENTED HIMSELF AT TRIAL, CLAIMED THAT POLICE LURED HIM INTO COMMITTING THE CRIMES.

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STATE POLICE IN CENTRE COUNTY SAY 32-YEAR-OLD SHERRY HOUTZ OF BELLEFONTE WAS KILLED BETWEEN 3:45 AND 4 YESTERDAY MORNING WHEN SHE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE AS SHE WALKED ALONG I-99 SOUTHBOUND JUST PAST THE WOODYCREST/TOFTREES EXIT NEAR STATE COLLEGE. HOUTZ HAD LAST BEEN SEEN AT THE SHEETZ ON BENNER PIKE AT 2:15AM. ANYONE WITH INFORMATION SHOULD CALL TROOPERS AT 355-75-45.

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AN INDIANA COUNTY MAN WAS AMONG 3 PEOPLE KILLED SUNDAY WHEN THEIR HELICOPTER CRASHED WHILE FILMING A REALITY TELEVISION SHOW IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. 45 YEAR OLD MICHAEL DONATELLI OF INDIANA, AN ARMY SPECIAL FORCES VETERAN, WHO HAD SERVED 4 TOURS OF DUTY IN IRAQ, WAS GOING TO DISPLAY HIS MILITARY SKILLS ON THE SHOW, WHICH WAS IN PRODUCTION FOR THE DISCOVERY CHANNEL. THE PILOT AND CINEMATOGRAPHER WERE ALSO KILLED IN THE ACCIDENT.

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A POLL TAKEN BY THE COMMONWEALTH FOUNDATION FINDS THAT 6 IN 10 PENNSYLVANIANS FAVOR GETTING THE STATE OUT OF THE WINE AND SPIRITS BUSINESS. 35-PERCENT OF RESPONDENTS OPPOSE LIQUOR PRIVATIZATION. GOVERNOR TOM CORBETT'S PROPOSAL WOULD CLOSE 619 STATE STORES AND PUT 12-HUNDRED RETAIL LIQUOR LICENSES UP FOR BID.

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PENNSYLVANIA LAWMAKERS ARE REACTING SHARPLY TO PRESIDENT OBAMA'S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS LAST NIGHT. OBAMA LAID OUT PLANS TO BRING HOME 34-THOUSAND U.S. SOLDIERS FROM AFGHANISTAN BY NEXT FEBRUARY AND AN INITIATIVE TO GIVE U.S. CITIZENSHIP TO NEARLY 11-MILLION FOREIGN IMMIGRANTS ALREADY LIVING HERE. PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICAN REPRESENTATIVE SCOTT PERRY SAID OBAMA'S FAILURE TO SUPPLY ANSWERS FOR THE NATION'S DEBT CRISIS DEMONSTRATES HIS INABILITY TO LEAD THE NATION. DEMOCRATIC STATE SENATOR BOB CASEY PRAISED OBAMA FOR USING THE WORD "JOBS" NUMEROUS TIMES THROUGHOUT THE ADDRESS.

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WESTERN PA GAS PRICES CONTINUED TO CLIMB FOR THE 3RD CONSECUTIVE WEEK. TRIPLE A FUEL GAUGE SAYS TODAY’S AVERAGE OF $3.74 IS 7 CENTS HIGHER THAN LAST TUESDAY. TODAY’S NATIONAL AVERAGE IS $3.60.